Description
Dwarf Mandarin Engall’s Seedless (Citrus unshui ‘Okitsu’)
The Robbie Engall’s Seedless mandarin was a variety of Satsuma mandarin selected for cultivation by the late Robbie Engall. As part of the Satsuma family, it can tolerate cooler temperatures quite well. The tree has a slightly drooping growth habit which can look almost decorative. It’s still relatively compact, but regular pruning would definitely help keep it in a nice shape. The dwarf tree can grow to about 1 – 1.5m in its lifetime, so even if it’s grown in a pot, it could potentially reach its full height if the pot is large enough to support it. It’s a strong grower and, when mature, it can be a reliable producer, though mandarins are sometimes known to skip a season of fruiting at times. Regular care, feeding, and thinning out of fruit can sometimes help mitigate this.
The Engall’s Seedless mandarin has a puffy skin that’s mostly separate from the inner flesh making it very easy to peel. Depending on the weather, fruit can start to ripen from April, which often means it’s one of the first citrus to ripen in the garden. This early harvest time makes a great companion for other mandarins, like the Imperial or Emperor, which start to ripen a little later in the season.
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